American
Water Ski Educational Foundation
1251 Holy Cow Rd.
Polk City, FL� 33868-8200
(863) 324-2472
fax: (863) 324-3996
For more
information contact:
Carole Lowe (863)
324-2472
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Six Water Skiers Receive AWSEF Scholarships
POLK CITY, Fla. – The American Water
Ski Educational Foundation�s Scholarship & Financial Aid Committee has
announced the awarding of six college scholarships in the amount of $1,500
each.
The MasterCraft scholarship has been
awarded to Virginia Rezin (Nekoosa, Wis.). Rezin, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, is
majoring in Early/Middle Adolescent Education. She is a member of the Rock Aqua
Jays Water Ski Team, and was a member of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
three-event team. She was the first recipient of the Janie Dibble/Michelle Cook
award, which is awarded to the most valuable female at the Wisconsin State
Water Ski Tournament.
For the third
consecutive year, the Tim Olson Memorial
scholarship has been awarded to Amanda Gottowske (Nekoosa, Wis.). Gottowske is a junior at the
University of Wisconsin majoring in Medical Microbiology and Immunology. She is
a member of the Shermalot Water Ski Team, and is involved as an act captain,
choreographer and solo act. She also participates in state and national water
ski tournaments and various community building projects.
The Correct Craft scholarship has been
awarded to Todd Culpepper (Milledgeville, Ga.). Culpepper, a junior at the University of Georgia majoring in
Accounting, judges in all three events in National Collegiate Water Ski
Association and American Water Ski Association tournaments. He has served as
tournament director for the University of Georgia�s tournaments for the past
five years. He also has served as chairman of the South Atlantic Conference and
as a member of the Eastern Region board of directors.
In memory of Jennifer Odom, the scholarship awarded
in her name has been awarded to Christopher Kadera (Lake Villa, Ill.). A junior at Marquette University
majoring in Civil Engineering, Kadera has been a member of the Aquanut Water
Shows for 13 years and has served as a board member for four years and show
director for one year. He also has served as an alternate representative for
the Wisconsin Water Ski Federation and National Show Ski Association. He also
has participated in the Rehabilitation Institute for disabled Learn-to-Ski
Clinics and helped develop clinics for the Aquanut Water Shows.
The Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew scholarship
has been awarded to Tarah Benzel (Groveland, Fla.). Benzel, a sophomore
at Rollins College majoring in Sociology, is an assistant judge and athlete
representative for the Eastern Region board of�
directors for the National Collegiate Water Ski Association. She was an
alternate to the 2003 U.S. Elite Water Ski Team and has been a member of three
U.S. 17 to 21 Water Ski Teams. She won the Open Women�s national tricks and
overall titles in 2003.
-more-
Page 2 –
2003 Scholarship Press Release
The “Big” Al Wagner/Western Region
scholarship has been awarded to Kelsey Vasbinder (Eugene, Ore.). Vasbinder, a junior at Arizona State
University majoring in Construction Management, has been a USA Water Ski
official since 1998, co-captain of the ASU Water Ski Team since 2002, and the
Pacific Conference chairman since 2003. She also is a three-event competitor in
the American Water Ski Association�s Western Region.
The AWSEF
Scholarship Fund is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations
and scholarship fund-raising events. The Jennifer Odom Memorial Scholarship is
sponsored in part by an endowment fund established in 1994. The Correct Craft
and MasterCraft scholarships are funded by the respective companies. The
Western Region sponsors the �Big� Al Wagner/Western Region Scholarship. The
Barbara Bolding/Jim Grew Scholarship is funded by Jim Grew. Family and friends
fund the Tim Olson Memorial Scholarship.
Applicants must be
incoming sophomore through senior level full-time students at a two-or
four-year accredited college, an active member of USA Water Ski and a U.S.
citizen. Persons interested in applying for an AWSEF Scholarship should write
to: AWSEF Scholarship, 1251 Holy Cow Road, Polk City, FL 33868-8200. After
Sept. 1, 2004 Applications can be downloaded from www.waterskihalloffame.com after
Sept. 1, 2004. Completed applications for 2005 scholarships must be received by
April 1.